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Beddgelert light Railway

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CARNARVON

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North Wales Baptist College.

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The National Eisteddfod

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The National Eisteddfod GIFT OF A SWORD BY PROFESSOR HERKOMER. v; Owing to the earlydate "of "tftis year's Na- tional Eisteddfod-cf Wales, Professor ftubert Herkoirier, R.A., who is known in Welsh bardic circles as Gcmer," is unable to get the "Sword of Ceremony," which he is pre- senting to the Gorsedd of the Bards, ready in time for formal presentation at Festiniog, as he had intended. The following is the cffi- cial description of the sword:-From the end of the scabbard to the top of the pom- mel it measures 6ft. 2in. On the top of the handle is a natural six-sided crystal, within which have been drilled the three lines of • Ccelbren beirdd," cr bars of light used by the Gorsedd of the Bards to represent the word "God." Professor Herkomer takes the crystal as a symbol of mystery, and the word "God" is therefore represented within this mystery. This crystal is held bv a dragon (made cf gold) clinging to the handle. The hand-guards consist of bands of bright steel, wrought into bold lines. The scab- bard is of wood, bound by enamelled copper bands, containing the following Welsh bardic mottoes, which have been supplied bv the Archdruid Hwfa Mon:—"Y Gwir vn Erbyn y Byd," "Duw a Phob Daioni," "Calon wrth Galon," "A Laddo a Leddir," r'Ie;;u na'd Gamwaith." There are also stones let into the scabbard. It is eminently a sword cf ceremony, not of war. The sword is in- tended to be carried upright, and only held horizontally for the interesting ceremonies of opening and closing the Gorsedd meetings, And the chairing of the bard, and the crown- ing of the poet, when all the members of the Gorsedd touch the Scabbard, and the Arch- druid calls cut, "A Oes Heddwch ?" (Is there peace ?). The entire work, including the forging of the blade, has been carried out by Professor Herkomer and his assistants, itt their workshops at Bushey, Herts.

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' HOLYHEAD

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North Wales Baptist College.